Sunday, December 2, 2007

The Challenge

As I sit to write this post I'm realizing that Trevor and I like to pose challenges to each other. I'm not really sure where it came from. I know my older sister poses "challenges" to Trevor and I on occasion (taking their family portrait for example), maybe that's where it came from...who knows. But anyways...back to the challenge at hand.

Shortly after getting married Trevor challenged me to decorate our house using only garage sales, thrift stores, free stuff lying on the side of the road, etc., etc., etc. (I should note, this is not including items like beds/mattresses, couches, things that can't really be re-vamped) So, as I would any challenge, I accepted. However, I would almost dare say that Trevor has taken more ownership of this challenge than I. Home decorating seems to be yet another one of his "things."

The financials are as follows:

Coffee table at local garage sale (found by Trevor) - $5
Paint stripper - $12
Paint stripping utensils - $4
Black Beluga paint - $12
Sand paper - $4

Cost of coffee table made TV stand = $39 (this is a very sturdy TV stand, not the fifteen-dollar-will-break-when-you-sit-on-it-and-wobbles-when-you-walk-by-it-end-table-from-IKEA-stand.)

Below are pictures of the completed project and steps it took to get there. (side note: I did contribute to the physical labor portion of this project, it was just not recorded seeing as how I was the historian)



Expect more posts soon of our other finished projects...

9 comments:

Lindsay & Josh said...

Thriftiness at it's best. It looks like you guys know a deal when you see one. Also looks like you guys are ready to live off of one salary and have kids....what do you say?

JasPam said...

Love the table below the flat screen tv. Looks very classy!And all of it done so economically! Can't wait to see more of your projects.

Becky @ Project Domestication said...

Impressive! Love the new black (black/brown?) paint!

This gives me some good ideas!

Evan said...

Looks great, and to think you did it without Connie Chung is something quite amazing. My favorite part was the Triz pic. putting on the gloves. I do love the black. -Ev

The Smith Family said...

Very very nice. You need to come to my house and do some projects with all your craftyness! Check out our blog, I know you will appreciate it! GO Beavs!!!

Rachel B. said...

Very impressive. I love garage sales and thrift store items that can be fixed up. Tom has pretty much given me the same challenge, although I'm not so sure it's as much a challenge as it is a "you have to because that's all we can afford" sort of thing. Good work. I'll check back for some ideas from you!

Evan said...

I know most people do not comment on comments, but it is one of my fav's. By the way who is the Smith family, I think they are my new fav. family with that Go Beavs number they pulled.

Lisa Michelle said...

That is some truly impressive handiwork! Bryce would also be tres impressed. Like most members in our family, we are BIG on getting a deal. NICE JOB. Looking forward to seeing more!

M said...

Trevor, I think you just found your night job! Very posh. Very now. Very impressive. As always, you two make a great team and leave the rest of us inspired.